Architecture Competition Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact 1st and Student prize winners – Tsinghua University

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 1st and Student prize winners of our “Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact” competition – Jinghua Yuan, Siyu Li, Wenhai Zheng and Dayou Du from China!

Wenhai Zheng - Male, born on 19th December 1998. A senior student at Tsinghua University Academy of Art & Design, with a major in Architectural environment design and a research objective in Interior design.

Jinghua Yuan - Female, born on 23rd September 1999. A junior student at Tsinghua University Academy of Art & Design, with a major in Architectural environment design and a research objective in Interior design.

Siyu Li - Female, born on 26th April 2000. A junior student at Tsinghua University Academy of Art & Design, with a major in Architectural environment design and a research objective in Interior design.

Dayou Du - Male, born on 18th October 2001. A high school graduate of Wellington College UK, currently in a gap year and seeking further studies in the field of architecture.

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc.) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights into your own professional/academic background.

Tsinghua University, established in 1911, is one of China's most prestigious and influential universities. With the motto of "Self-Discipline and Social Commitment" and the spirit of "Actions Speak Louder than Words", Tsinghua University is dedicated to the well-being of Chinese society and to world development. Tsinghua is committed to cultivating global citizens who will thrive in today's world and become tomorrow's leaders.

Tsinghua University Academy of Arts & Design, founded in 1956, is the first higher education school of design and art in China. For nearly 40 years, it has been the only independent Chinese design & art college. It aims to lead the concept and system of Chinese education of art and design. Tsinghua University keeps expanding the students' view to improve their comprehension skills. At the Academy, great attention is paid to the studies of traditional arts around the globe. It also advocates the spirit of being precise in pursuing studies, relating theory to practice and seeking truth, and stresses the need to suit design to lives. Students are trained to accurately grasp the changing trend and pace of social and cultural life.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

Architecture carries us, carries the rationality and sensibility. It is a combination of engineering and art. Architecture depicts real life; our living environment is surrounded by buildings, the combination of space and the organization of function are questions answered by buildings. It is the context of civilization, and it imperceptibly affects everyone's life.

Architecture has an indelible connection with all aspects of our life. It serves not only individuals, but also the public. The goal of architecture is to create the perfect living environment and carry the spirit of human ideology. There are two powerful conquerors of human forgetfulness – poetry and architecture. The witnessing of human civilization is indispensable to architecture. As the participants of human civilization, architects build houses, temples, stadiums, and even whole cities, which embody the spirit of the times to a great extent.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions have been an important part of innovation in the field for centuries. Over the past decades, architectural competitions have been able to find the best and unique designs for projects, and sometimes even to focus on social issues and promote social development.

We learned that BUILDNER as the organizer of architecture competitions has carried out fully inclusive organization work for architectural projects and architecture ideas competitions. The winning works of their competitions are not only creative, but also caring for the environment and the society – this is one of the main reasons which attracted us. This competition, derived from Covid-19, is a topic concerned with the future destiny of mankind. The Covid-19 situation around the world is changing daily. The future of mankind is even more blurred with the factor of global warming endangering our lives. What is the role of mankind when we look at it from a cosmic perspective? We wanted to respond to the topic.

The tide of the times has violently impacted, deconstructed, and reshaped the living and working modes of contemporary people, which will profoundly rewrite the development process and basic consensus of human beings. Many problems that have been out of sight have become the centre on people's attention again, and architects cannot stand idly by. Participating in architecture competitions can inspire us to think about new problems, break the shackles of the past, and think about the boundaries and direction of the architecture of the future.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions are different from actual projects, and many people find it difficult to choose. In fact, high-level competitions can be more helpful in shaping the architect's foundational views.

On one hand, through participating in competitions, architects develop broader and more diversified thinking abput architecture and design; not only limited to the structure in reality, but also re-examining the design itself from different perspectives, such as urban living, construction of narrative, site history, and so on, considering the value of architecture and the value of architects.

On the other hand, competitions provide an excellent opportunity for participants to present their aspirations and ideas to the public in the form of competition works. Compared with long and complex construction projects, the virtuality of competitions enables participants to take more initiative to design, unleash their creativity, and realize their ambitions.